In the future I believe balloons will be square,
not circular, and the cockpits will be much bigger. They will
hold over 20 people and will fly from airport to airport, just
like a plane. The balloon will be made with solar panels on the
cloth. The panels energy will run ito the engine. There will be
a plastic case over the cockpit for people to fly as high as the
stratosphere. It will go quicker, too. It will have an engine
on a track that will steer the balloon. The engine will run on
vegetable oil that runs though the wires holding the balloon to
the engine in the track.
The cockpit itself will be made of thick rope with rubber pieces melted in with it. This will be lighter and also safer. There will additional solar panels and a battery just in case of an emergency. Parachutes and first aid kits will also be supplied. The oil will be stored in tanks under the cockpit.
These wonderful new hot air balloons will be called Neoteric Balloons. Neoteric is a synonym for the word "new".